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"Lulu Says Goodbye to DRM"

morfiction

Troubadour
Goodbye?

I was emailed just now by Lulu. Here I'll quote the email. Sorry if I'm reposting. Plz move this thread to another thread with the same content if that is the case. :D


Lulu was founded on the philosophy of breaking down barriers that prevent talented authors from sharing their knowledge and telling their stories. Our goal is to help authors reach the broadest possible audience by providing tools to create, publish, market and sell their remarkable work. In an ongoing commitment to our founding philosophy, we are making the following changes to our Digital Rights Management (DRM):

On January 15, 2013 we will remove the option to apply Adobe Digital Rights Management (DRM) to new and revised EPUB and PDF formatted eBooks.

On March 12, 2013 all remaining DRM-protected eBooks will be set to Private Access, temporarily removing them from the Lulu marketplace until placed back into General or Direct Access by the author.

If you have a DRM-protected eBook, you must revise and re-publish the title at your earliest convenience, in order to continue offering it on Lulu.com after March 12, 2013. For more detailed information on how this change could affect you or your readers, please see this article: DRM & eBooks Published in the Lulu Marketplace.

Once this process completes, we believe your readers will enjoy a more integrated shopping, downloading, and reading experience. For more information about why we have changed our DRM policy, please read this blog post by our COO, Tom Bright: Lulu Says Goodbye to DRM.

Thank you for choosing Lulu to tell your story. We wish you great success in the coming year.

Your Friends at Lulu
 

danr62

Sage
Ouch, look at those comments. Some authors need to realize that DRM offers them zero protection and only serves to annoy buyers. How easy is it to crack DRM files?
 

JCFarnham

Auror
Am I right in thinking that DRM is the kind of protection that stops you from sharing items between your own devices, even going so far as to removing the content after a designated period of time?

Frankly I'm happy someone scrapped DRM, if that's the case (it's late, that's my excuse for not knowing :p and I'm sticking to it.)
 

Strings

New Member
Ouch, look at those comments. Some authors need to realize that DRM offers them zero protection and only serves to annoy buyers. How easy is it to crack DRM files?

It's as simple as a google search and a download. DRM is an ill-conceived attempt to impose scarcity on resources that can't remain scarce in a digital world. The best copyright holders can hope for is promoting good-will among non-paying users. A person who wouldn't buy a book, movie, or game in the first place cannot be converted to a sale with DRM. They can, however, be turned in to good word of mouth. That said, obviously people want to profit from their hard work, but DRM just doesn't work. It's about time for a new paradigm.
 
I'm OK with getting rid of DRM if we transition to a communist economic system.
I don't think DRM does what you think it does, ZA. ;)

DRM is easy to break. There is a free plugin for Calibre which does the job.
DRM is legal to break (in the USA, in most cases), thanks to the Library of Congress's 2010 regulations on the DMCA.

Essentially, DRM does two things:
1) It makes it harder for people without tech savvy to move their ebooks from one device to another.
2) It locks less tech savvy people into a specific retailer; for example, once Grampa Joe has bought $1000 work of Amazon ebooks, they are VERY unlikely to ever leave Amazon to buy a new Kobo device - because Joe wouldn't be able to read all those old ebooks on the new device.

The latter reason is why even major publishers are finally beginning to dump DRM. Amazon has been encouraging them to use DRM. Amazon does this because it benefits Amazon by locking readers into their system and discouraging readers from going to other retailers.

DRM doesn't stop piracy because:
1) Anyone skilled enough to give someone else an ebook is also skilled enough to type "crack kindle DRM" into Google and follow a few simple instructions.
2) Even if DRM were not so easy to crack that my six year old could do it, all it would take would be one very skilled hacker to crack a book and upload it - then it would spread to all sites, and the DRM strength would be irrelevant.
3) DRM only functions for a brief time. For computer games, it is OK that the DRM is cracked within a month, because most sales happen in the first week or two. For ebooks, where a single type of DRM must be used for ALL books released by a retailer, once the DRM is cracked, it's cracked for *all* ebooks sold by that retailer.

Piracy is an issue.
DRM does not prevent piracy.
 
I don't think DRM does what you think it does, ZA. ;)

DRM is easy to break. There is a free plugin for Calibre which does the job.
DRM is legal to break (in the USA, in most cases), thanks to the Library of Congress's 2010 regulations on the DMCA.

Essentially, DRM does two things:
1) It makes it harder for people without tech savvy to move their ebooks from one device to another.
2) It locks less tech savvy people into a specific retailer; for example, once Grampa Joe has bought $1000 work of Amazon ebooks, they are VERY unlikely to ever leave Amazon to buy a new Kobo device - because Joe wouldn't be able to read all those old ebooks on the new device.

The latter reason is why even major publishers are finally beginning to dump DRM. Amazon has been encouraging them to use DRM. Amazon does this because it benefits Amazon by locking readers into their system and discouraging readers from going to other retailers.

DRM doesn't stop piracy because:
1) Anyone skilled enough to give someone else an ebook is also skilled enough to type "crack kindle DRM" into Google and follow a few simple instructions.
2) Even if DRM were not so easy to crack that my six year old could do it, all it would take would be one very skilled hacker to crack a book and upload it - then it would spread to all sites, and the DRM strength would be irrelevant.
3) DRM only functions for a brief time. For computer games, it is OK that the DRM is cracked within a month, because most sales happen in the first week or two. For ebooks, where a single type of DRM must be used for ALL books released by a retailer, once the DRM is cracked, it's cracked for *all* ebooks sold by that retailer.

Piracy is an issue.
DRM does not prevent piracy.

I'm pretty sure DRM does exactly what I think it does. The issue is that you feel that it is a penalty on people that are less tech savvy, when in reality it is a barrier to piracy in the same way that knowing how to swim can be a barrier to piracy. Also, forcing people to choose to swim in waters that are specified no swimming zones.

It's easy to jump a turnstile too, but the presence of a turnstile will prevent many people from circumventing it and let people know that they aren't supposed to circumvent it.

I don't think having a rule against piracy is a bad thing, and I'm not opposed to a misguided attempt that does no harm. And I think, although it doesn't affect the type of people that are going to try to break it, just having it does prevent people from trying. I'm planning on taking DRM off my released works and no longer putting it on new works, but I feel that I should be given the option. And if DRM is not as effective as it could be, then I believe that it should be made more effective.

I suppose I am opposed to DRM locking people from using their content on multiple devices. I do fall in the camp that once you own something, you actually do own it--you're not just renting it. I also am OK with piracy of unavailable content I guess. For instance, video game emulators of defunct systems.
 

Steerpike

Felis amatus
Moderator
I suppose I am opposed to DRM locking people from using their content on multiple devices. I do fall in the camp that once you own something, you actually do own it--you're not just renting it. I also am OK with piracy of unavailable content I guess. For instance, video game emulators of defunct systems.

Electronic works are probably going to continue to move toward a licensing system, so that you don't own it and you're bound by contract to certain terms.

With DRM or any other scheme, though, not everyone has to break it. Once one person does and puts the work on a torrent site, the rest of the people who want to download it illegally will be able to find it even if they couldn't break the DRM themselves.
 
Electronic works are probably going to continue to move toward a licensing system, so that you don't own it and you're bound by contract to certain terms.

With DRM or any other scheme, though, not everyone has to break it. Once one person does and puts the work on a torrent site, the rest of the people who want to download it illegally will be able to find it even if they couldn't break the DRM themselves.

Yes, as Kevin pointed out, even if it took more than a 6-year old to break it, as soon as it's broke it's worthless and widely available.

I guess my "solution" to DRM would be the same as my solution to most things: better education.
 

Steerpike

Felis amatus
Moderator
I'm content to let authors decide for themselves, or their publishers for that matter. I'll buy books I want with or without DRM. So far it has been a non-issue for me as a consumer. Deciding on it from an author standpoint is a different story.
 

WyrdMystic

Inkling
To add - I think people have got to remember that the losses placed on piracy are over estimated, as not all pirates would convert to buying if stopped.

Also, there are three kinds of pirates - those who don't want to pay (boo!), those who can't afford to pay (would you honestly stop someone from reading your book because they have no money - when any other work is available at the local library - for now), and those that are disenchanted by mordern marketing and prefer the try before you buy paradigm - there's nothing worse than given into the hype and buying something for £10 or even £20 just to find out you would of been happier flushing it down the toilet.

At the end of the day, even with piracy, firms generate enough income to be profitable. The current action against piracy is because it's 'money left on the table' .

I would be happy with people taking my work under the table safe in the knowledge that there are enough conscientious people out there who would pay and can afford to.

I don't think any type of coding will stop it (DRM) or not - as soon as a new coding mechanism is created, its broken, half the time by the same companies that create it in the first place.

Also, the best way to drive innovation and creativity in the market place is to reduce the profits of large organisations making them more inclined to create something spectacular - at the moment there's too much mass production and 'flat-pack' movies.
 
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Chilari

Staff
Moderator
I wonder if a "pay what you think it's worth" model in the style of the Humble Indie Bundle game collections would work for novels? Potential readers get info up-front - length, reading level, description and any available reviews, plus perhaps ratings - then pay what they think is the right price, above a minimum threshold. A suitable length of time later, they are asked to rate and/or review the book to help other readers decide what to pay for it. The website that hosts/distributes it takes a percentage cut, or perhaps some sort of minimum threshold (eg, of the customer price threshold is $1, the website take $0.70 then 35% above that or whatever) and this is made clear to the potential buyer too.

This eliminates some of the piracy issues - if you can't afford even $1 for a book that's one thin, but a lot more people will be able to justify paying $1 for a book than a fixed price of $5 or whatever; thus potential pirates who are poor but would otherwise be honest now pay, even if it's not much, while those who have cash to splash and who want to support new authors can pay higher prices.

Then you put a breakdown of prices paid - average paid (mean and median), lowest paid, highest paid, maybe a median range, breakdown by country or browser etc. This will encourage those who can afford it to not be cheap. And maybe offer extra content - a short story, character art etc - for anyone who pays above the average to further encourage higher prices.

To eliminate the "try before you by" piracy crowd you put up samples and offer links to free short stories the author has posted elsewhere previously.

The important thing is to make it very easy to do - no need to register an account before buying, or do it through something like Amazon if they'd be willing to try the business model. Then the easiest way of getting hold of the story is legitimate, allows you to chose how much you pay above the threshold, and enables you to buy a book which is affordable - because you chose what you pay.

Then the only people who would try to pirate the stuff would be those determined not to pay anyway, who would probably not buy the book anyway even if they couldn't pirate it.
 

WyrdMystic

Inkling
I think an honesty system would work well enough, still wouldn't eliminate piracy though - but to be honest, if you are generating enough income (where anything over and above is just a bonus) what does piracy matter? It's only when the piracy rips into your living that it becomes an issue and how often is that threshold really truly broken?

Licensing I think is the next model though. You put your stuff up for free. The company pays you an amount based on the number of downloads or a fixed licensing fee. The end user pays a small subscription for limited or premium for unlimited content. Kind of like amazon's model or Love Film etc.

That's the way they are going, but it would be good for an Indie consortium to try the model you've suggested, provide competition for the likes of amazon and major publishing houses. I think its got a good chance of growing in the digital age. The runners would take a minor percentage to cover the cost of providing the means and the rest is ditributed to the authors.

Maybe the next evolution of Mythic Scribes?
 
I wonder if a "pay what you think it's worth" model in the style of the Humble Indie Bundle game collections would work for novels? Potential readers get info up-front - length, reading level, description and any available reviews, plus perhaps ratings - then pay what they think is the right price, above a minimum threshold. A suitable length of time later, they are asked to rate and/or review the book to help other readers decide what to pay for it. The website that hosts/distributes it takes a percentage cut, or perhaps some sort of minimum threshold (eg, of the customer price threshold is $1, the website take $0.70 then 35% above that or whatever) and this is made clear to the potential buyer too.

This eliminates some of the piracy issues - if you can't afford even $1 for a book that's one thin, but a lot more people will be able to justify paying $1 for a book than a fixed price of $5 or whatever; thus potential pirates who are poor but would otherwise be honest now pay, even if it's not much, while those who have cash to splash and who want to support new authors can pay higher prices.

Then you put a breakdown of prices paid - average paid (mean and median), lowest paid, highest paid, maybe a median range, breakdown by country or browser etc. This will encourage those who can afford it to not be cheap. And maybe offer extra content - a short story, character art etc - for anyone who pays above the average to further encourage higher prices.

To eliminate the "try before you by" piracy crowd you put up samples and offer links to free short stories the author has posted elsewhere previously.

The important thing is to make it very easy to do - no need to register an account before buying, or do it through something like Amazon if they'd be willing to try the business model. Then the easiest way of getting hold of the story is legitimate, allows you to chose how much you pay above the threshold, and enables you to buy a book which is affordable - because you chose what you pay.

Then the only people who would try to pirate the stuff would be those determined not to pay anyway, who would probably not buy the book anyway even if they couldn't pirate it.

I'm not sure about the legality since I haven't examined the agreement closely enough and I do not have the training of say, Steerpike, but I think it would be possible to accomplish this by publishing multiple versions of the same work with the "$0.99 version" or "$2.99 version" added to the title. Although buyers are not able to choose exactly how much to pay, they have options. Additionally, you could just have a donate option setup somewhere on your website.

In fact, I've already seen some of this in the Android marketplace (Google Play). Some indy games have a free version and a $0.99 version that are identical (not even removing ads or anything). The $0.99 version is marketed as the "support the developer version".
 

WyrdMystic

Inkling
That brings up an interesting model - giving away your work for free but charging others for incover advertising per download. Win win win.
 

WyrdMystic

Inkling
I'm pretty sure THAT's against most publishing agreements (at least Amazon's).

Now sure and the big ones too. But this is about future concepts, lets face it 15 years ago you went into a blockbuster to get a video, pick n mix and ice cream and amazon was unheard of. What happens in another 15 years when industry evolves to keep pace?

At the end of the day its the publishers who tap into audiences, authors who have the product. For those willing to try, there is potential to experiment and create a new model. That's the beauty of the modern age. You don't have to go through a major company if you have an alternative way of reaching your audience.

Couple that with the way the industry is already changing...more and more you will see publishers using the success/failure of indie works to screen their signings. For them its less risk to take on an indie who has grown their own audience than it is to take on John or Jane Doe of Obscuria. Well....
 
I guess my "solution" to DRM would be the same as my solution to most things: better education.

I agree. ;) For example, you DO know that in the USA, cracking most ebook DRM is legal, right? Provided you are doing it for personal use, and not distributing it? I ask because you used the turnstile example, which is very different (since jumping a turnstile is generally illegal, and cracking ebook DRM usually is not).

Most people don't know that, so DRM serves as a barrier which keeps *honest* (but poorly informed) folks from using their ebooks as they would like; but does not hinder less honest people at all.
 

Steerpike

Felis amatus
Moderator
I don't know if that's the case, Kevin. I think most federal circuits have found that DRM breaking is illegal under the DMCA. There was a Fifth Circuit decision a couple of years ago that put a condition on it, but it wasn't one that would avail a person of much in most cases, and wouldn't affect decisions from other circuits.

Or have eBooks been specifically written into the exemptions via rulemaking?
 
I don't know if that's the case, Kevin. I think most federal circuits have found that DRM breaking is illegal under the DMCA. There was a Fifth Circuit decision a couple of years ago that put a condition on it, but it wasn't one that would avail a person of much in most cases, and wouldn't affect decisions from other circuits.

Or have eBooks been specifically written into the exemptions via rulemaking?

A specific exemption was made for most ebooks in the LOC's 2010 DMCA regulations. Basically, publishers were putting DRM on ebooks that made them unusable for read-aloud or other special types of readers, and the LOC said if an ebook DRM prevented such special use, then cracking it for personal use was legal.

Since almost all ebook DRM in use today does so, it's *almost* a blanket permission.
 
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